Preparation, thermal analysis, and crystal structure refinement of the quaternary alloy (CuIn)2NbTe5

P. Grima-Gallardo, Universidad De Los Andes Facultad de Ciencias
M. Palmera, Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomía
J. A. Aitken, Duquesne University
J. Cisterna, Universidad de Antofagasta
I. Brito, Universidad de Antofagasta
G. E. Delgado, Universidad de Antofagasta

Abstract

The quaternary alloy (CuIn)2NbTe5 was synthesized by solid-state reaction using the melt and annealing technique. The thermal analysis shows that this compound melts at 1026 K. The present alloy is isotypic with Cu2FeIn2Se5 and crystallizes in the space group P¹42c (N°112),with unit cell parameters a = 6:1964(2) ° A, c = 12:4761(4) ° A, c=a = 2:01, V = 479:02(3) °A3. (CuIn)2NbTe5, belonging to the system(CuInSe2)1-x(FeSe)x with x = 1/3, is a new adamantane compound with a P¡chalcopyrite structure. This structure is characterized by adouble alternation of anions-cations layers according to the Te-Te: Nb-In-Nb-In: Cu-In-Cu-In: Te-Te sequence, along the 010 direction